1. Civil Rights
Chapter 18

2. Early Civil Rights Segregation Separating of the races
De facto – by circumstance, tradition
De jure – by law
Brown v. Board (1954)
Supreme Court rules that “separate is inherently unequal”
Overturns Plessy v. Ferguson
Calls for end of school segregation, beginning of integration
Civil Rights Act of 1957
U.S. Civil Rights Commission established to investigate civil rights violations

3. Early Civil Rights, cont.
Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955)
City buses segregated in Montgomery, AL
Rosa Parks refuses to give up her seat, arrested
Local leaders organize a bus boycott
Supreme court declares segregated buses unconstitutional
Buses integrated, boycott ends
Shows power of working together, elevates Martin Luther King Jr. to leadership position
Integration in Little Rock (1957)
Central High School integrates with “Little Rock 9” – 1st black students
Opposition from governor and citizens
Governor orders National Guard to prevent integration
Eisenhower sends federal troops to enforce integration

4. Student Activism Sit-Ins SNCC Freedom Rides
Go somewhere that’s “whites only” and stay until served or arrested
SNCC
Aimed at young people, promotes non-violent protest
Freedom Rides
Supreme Court ruled that buses and terminals must be integrated
Freedom rides will test compliance
Buses and riders encountered violence

5. Demonstrations Birmingham (1963) March on Washington (1963)
MLK and other leaders chose Birmingham for peaceful demonstrations because of its reputation as the most segregated city in the South
Non-violent demonstrations lead to MLK’s arrest
Writes “Letter from Birmingham Jail”
Police chief “Bull” Connor orders fire hoses and dogs used on protesters
Americans shocked by scenes on TV
March on Washington (1963)
Thousands march in Washington in support of Civil Rights Bill in Congress
MLK makes “I Have a Dream” speech
Civil Rights Act of 1964 passed, outlaws public segregation and employment discrimination

6. Voting Rights Freedom Summer (1964) Selma March (1965)
Intimidation, poll taxes, literacy tests prevent blacks in Mississippi from voting
Volunteers from the North would help register blacks to vote
Encounter violence, 3 workers murdered
Selma March (1965)
March from Selma to Montgomery to build support for voting rights
March broken up with violence from state troopers, violence shown on news

7. Voting Rights, cont. Voting Rights Act of 1965 24th Amendment
Bans literacy tests, federal govt. oversees voter registration
24th Amendment
Bans poll tax
Black voters registration and political involvement skyrockets

8. Civil Rights Groups SCLC – MLK’s group, believed in nonviolent protest
SNCC – Student led group
NAACP – Favored using the courts to seek equality
Nation of Islam – Believed in “Black Nationalism” and separation of the races
Malcolm X – Initially member of Nation of Islam, critical of MLK. Changes after pilgrimage to Mecca, supports MLK, assassinated
Black Power – Have pride, work together to gain equality
Black Panthers – Militant group

9. Turmoil Race riots in major cities MLK assassinated – 1968
Tension between whites and blacks